I'll start off by saying that I have no ill feelings toward being a 4b. I like my hair. However, I just feel kind of...isolated when it comes to other natural ladies.

On almost every natural hair website, it seems like there are almost no 4bs whatsoever. The ladies with long hair in their fotkis never have the same hair texture that I do. Plus, sometimes, some 3c ladies will complain about that "rough", 4b coily patch in the middle of their heads and say how they can never keep it moisturized and soft. Well, how do they think it is for someone with hair like that all over their head? It's really not that bad, but they make it out to be like it's the end of the world.

So, this leaves me to the question...where are all the 4bs? I find it hard to believe that 90% of black women only have 4a or 3c hair. Could it be that the 4bs just are less prone to go natural?

Originally Posted by Indeed

I've always wondered about the bolded too. I think that yeah, either "4bs" are less likely to go natural or ladies with looser hair textures are highlighted and exposed to an extreme degree when compared to their counterparts (obviously the two possibilities are rooted in the same problem--that *bleeping* good hair slave mentality).

All that said, I have noticed that most hair blogs and forums are void of the tighter textured presence--there's one notable exception that I know of. Nappturality. There are some beautiful ladies over there. As for hair idols? Feast your eyes on NappyMia http://public.fotki.com/Nappyme/
She also has a blog: http://nappyme.wordpress.com/
I love her!

Originally Posted by AmberBrown

Amber, I'm incredibly flattered beyond words. Thank you.

With regard to the topic at hand, I think we're just the least likely to go natural. Also, when it's very well cared for and moisturized (with all the edges neatly tucked in) it can look as if it's something else.

I can't tell you how many times, when I'm wearing one of my twisted hair styles that people have referred to my hair as "good hair."

But let me wear a puff or some style like my box braids where my edges are out in all their nappy glory and that's when my naps tell no tales. I rarely, if ever get any compliments...not that I'm looking for any but that's the way it goes.

To the original poster, we do have an internet presence, however, many naturals prefer not to identify with the whole hair typing system and so they're no likely to broadcast that they're a 4B. You've also got folks declaring that they're a 4C, which I think is just 4B hair. But for some reason, they think their hair is the nappiest on earth and so they can't possibly be a 4B. Eh...whatever. But basically, someone who says they're a 4c is really a 4b.

The cNapp albums page of my blog still has some pretty good active links so go there. And this may help as well.